Korg KARMA

The KARMA represents seven years in the making. It's a synthesizer based
on the engines and effects of the Triton
series. KARMA is a music workstation with a revolutionary new phrase
technology. Generate grooves, arpeggios, effects and more, all in
realtime with plenty of knobs, switches and joysticks for hands-on
control. You can control the rhythmic complexity, harmony, melodic
repeat, phrasing, panning, effects and more from these knobs! KARMA is
designed to create techno arpeggios and effects, natural sounding
glissandos, and many other animated sounds and dynamic effects. KARMA
lets you play complex moving synth parts that could normally take hours
of programming. Just play some chords and twiddle the control knobs to
vary the KARMA patterns, and let KARMA do the rest.

Like the Triton, KARMA features 62 voice polyphony and HI (Hyper
Integrated) synthesis with 425 PCM multi-samples and 413 drum sounds.
Patch memory consists of 640 user programs, plus 256 programs and 9 drum
programs, 64 drum kits and 9 GM drum kits. Up to 8 patches can be
combined, split, layered, etc. There is, however, no on-board sampler as
there is in the Triton. But the KARMA technology more than makes up for
this limitation with its revolutionary ability to generate totally
random or fully controllable animated sounds, grooves, phrases, etc.
which can't be found in comparable synthesizers. A splendid,
studio-quality effects section offers 102 effects to sweeten your KARMA
creations. In addition to an LFO, Alternate Modulation and Effect
Dynamic Modulation enable you to further modulate the pitch, filter,
amp, EG, LFO, etc. All modulation and KARMA functions can be synced to
tempo or MIDI clock.

A built-in and powerful 16-track sequencer is all you need to generate
complete music tracks with the KARMA. It can hold up to 200 songs, with
up to 999 measures per song! Phrases generated by the KARMA function can
be recorded into your sequences. Songs are created using a Cue List
function to arrange up to 99 different sequences. The RPPR (Realtime
Pattern Play/Recording) function lets you play phrases back by pressing
a single key. And there are 150 drum and percussion patterns provided.
You can jam along with the RPPR function or the Song Play function,
using KARMA effects in realtime and in sync! Excellent for live use as
well as in the studio.

KARMA - Kay Algorithmic Realtime
Music Architecture, developed by Stephen Kay,
Karma Lab LLC. The
KARMA function separates every aspect of a musical phrase into
independently controllable parts. It features over 1000 Generated
Effects (1 GE per Program, 4 GEs per Combi or Song). A GE contains over
400 parameters to generate notes, control synth and effects parameters,
and provide randomization of these events. There are eight knobs and two
switches to control up to 10 of the 16 KARMA parameters in realtime. Two
Scene memories store current knob settings to recall them instantly.
MIDI control messages can be used to control KARMA too. One KARMA module
is available in Program mode, four modules can be used in
Combi/Sequencer/Song Play modes. Classic Chord Memory is also available
for playing entire chords with just a single key...Trance heaven! KARMA
is an exciting new synthesizer technology that adds a whole new level of
interactivity and variability suitable for just about any genre of
music.

The new Version 2.0 operating system for the Karma Music Workstation is
a free of download to all Karma owners and users. It works with the new
KARMA MW, a computer software program (Mac/Windows) that allows in-depth
access to all of KARMA's creative features. Version 2.0 adds 320 new
locations for saving and storing User GEs. These can be loaded in via
floppy disk or MIDI dump, and can be created externally using the KARMA
MW Computer Software. Other new features packed into Version 2.0 include
time signature and tap tempo control, intuitive real-time control,
improved sequencing, true swing quantization, improved performance with
external sequencers, and much more; all of which are mostly the result
of user input and ideas. This upgrade to 2.0 and the KARMA MW software
is a must have for all Karma users! Current famous users include Rick
Wakeman, Phil Collins, Adam Holzman, Herbie Hancock, Peter Gabriel,
Vangelis, Yes, Greg Phillenganes, Pete Townshend, and Keith Emerson.

The link above will take you to an eBay search for this synth to see active listings with more images, specs and information. If you don't find it there, try looking in our forum marketplace. Our marketplace gets thousands of visits every week so make sure to check back often if you want to buy or sell a synth.

Im buying my first professional Keyboard. I've played on the Fantoms, Motifs,Tritons,etc. but I really dont know much about these keyboards. I've done some research and they both seem pretty... | Read more...

... some research but I'd like to get a first hand opinion or 2. I was thinking about getting a Karma to replace an RM1x for sequencing and the added benefit of a full sized keyboard, better ... | Read more...